The DEA and local law enforcement in many Washington communities will be holding a National Pharmaceutical Take-Back Day on Saturday Sept. 25th 10 am - 2 pm. This email has links to online information about this event as well as commentary on this collection event in the context of efforts to create an ongoing, sustainably funded statewide medicine return program for Washington. Link to Take-Back Day info on MedicineReturn.com Please link to this page on medicinereturn.com if your organization wants a simple way to help promote the DEA Take-Back Day while also getting our message about the need for a statewide program across, and promoting the use of convenient existing drop-off programs. http://www.medicinereturn.com/dea-national-take-back-day Link to DEA's web info and collection site search tool: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/takeback/ About the DEA's Pharmaceutical Take-Back Day and Washington's Need for a Statewide Drug Take-Back Program: Recognizing the dire need for safe drug disposal programs, on September 25th local law enforcement in many Washington communities will be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted medicines for destruction as part of a nationwide event promoted by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Unused, leftover drugs are endangering our children, our families and getting into our waterways. The home medicine cabinet has become the new drug dealer. People are demanding action and our communities are struggling to address this problem, yet the pharmaceutical companies who make these drugs have not yet stepped up to be part of the solution. DEA's support for a one-day collection event is significant, but this short-term federal financial assistance addresses only part of the problem and won't last for long. Local law enforcement must provide staffing and other services, and limited budgets may not allow every community to participate on Sept 25th. Washington needs a statewide system for safe return and disposal of leftover medicines, with financial support from drug companies. The cost would be a drop in the bucket compared to sales of medicines, which in WA State alone are more than $4 billion per year. Currently 11 counties in Washington have drug take-back programs at law enforcement offices or at pharmacies where residents can take their leftover medicines throughout the year (see www.medicinereturn.com<https://owa.kingcounty.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.medicinereturn.com> for locations). But our communities are struggling to keep these convenient programs going with limited funding, and most communities cannot afford them. A statewide medicine return program could be funded by the drug companies who create these drugs and make the most profit from selling them. Margaret Shield PhD Policy Liaison, Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County cell 206-265-9732 margaret.shield@kingcounty.gov<mailto:margaret.shield@kingcounty.gov> Local Governments for Health and the Environment www.lhwmp.org<http://www.lhwmp.org/> ________________________________ Rob McKenna ATTORNEY GENERAL OF WASHINGTON 1125 Washington Street SE * PO Box 40100 * Olympia WA 98504-0100 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 15, 2010 MEDIA ADVISORY: National drug take-back day events throughout Washington state on Sept. 25 State Attorney General's Office partners with Drug Enforcement Administration to promote prescription drug safety OLYMPIA - Prescription painkillers - often stolen and abused - are helping fuel an overdose epidemic in Washington state. Drug overdoses now kill more Washington residents than car accidents. Because of this epidemic, The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other government, community, public health and law enforcement partners are working together to help the public safely dispose of expired or unused medications on Saturday, Sept. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. DEA will host the National Take-Back Initiative in communities throughout the state. Those with unused or expired medications should check DEA's Web site<https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/SEARCH-NTBI> to find collection sites in their communities. Drugs may be returned anonymously for disposal-no questions asked. Nearly 30 take-back sites around the state are already confirmed, with more to be announced in coming days. Washington State Attorney General's Office personnel will be on hand at several take-back locations in order to promote the safe disposal and storage of prescription drugs. They will urge consumers to check, lock and properly dispose of prescription drugs throughout the year. Attorney General Rob McKenna will appear at the Seattle take-back site at Safeco Field's "Home Plate" Parking lot at 10:45 am on Sept. 25. More information will be announced the week of Sept. 25. Jodie Underwood Special Agent (O) 206-553-1162 Bill Smith Senior Environmental Specialist City of Tacoma Solid Waste Management 3510 S. Mullen Street Tacoma, WA 98409 253-593-7719 Phone 253-591-5547 Fax